BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a method and device for executing applications
related to Audio/Video (A/V) content. More particularly, the present invention relates
to a method and device in which various devices with different platforms may easily
execute applications related to A/V content.
2. Description of the Related Art:
[0002] The development of digital technology and broadcast service technology has made it
possible to provide high-quality, multi-channel, multi-functional, interactive broadcast
services and high-definition video media by data broadcasting.
[0003] A user (e.g., consumer) viewing (e.g., consuming) A/V content may receive a variety
of additional information and services related to the A/V content by executing applications
related to the A/V content while viewing the A/V content. For example, a user viewing
A/V content such as a drama through media such as a data broadcast may want to obtain
details about the clothes an actor featured in the drama wears or about the location
of the drama. Similarly, a consumer of A/V content such as a live music ranking program
may want to take part in a poll for ranking the music. Likewise, a consumer consuming
A/V content such as an animation through media such as a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)
may want to enjoy games in which the animation is used as a material thereof.
[0004] Considering these needs of the A/V content consumers, A/V content providers provide
various types of applications related to A/V content. The A/V content providers may
provide, for example, an application for viewing additional information about a drama,
a viewer poll application for music rankings, an additional application in which an
animation is used as a material thereof, etc.
[0005] Generally, the A/V content consumers directly search for A/V content-related information
or applications on a separate device (e.g., a Personal Computer (PC)) connected to
the network, which inconveniences both the A/V content providers and the A/V content
consumers.
[0006] Accordingly, the recent technology is specific to the media on which A/V content
is delivered as well as the devices where the A/V content is consumed. Also, technology
standards regarding delivery of not only A/V content but also applications related
to the A/V content are defined such as Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) standard
in digital broadcast, and Blu-ray Disc Java (BD-J) standard for Blu-ray discs.
[0007] When provided in this manner, the applications may use broadcast transmission resources
for broadcasting of A/V content, or recording media such as a Blu-ray disc for providing
A/V content. However, resources are inevitably limited in transmission of the applications,
and even for recording media such as the Blu-ray disc the recording capacity is limited,
thus making it difficult to provide applications for users due to, for example, the
limitations on transmission bandwidth, the high fees, etc.
[0008] Since A/V content consumers may execute applications on various types of devices
such as a set-top box, a DVD player, a personal mobile device, and the like, and the
areas where the A/V content is to be serviced are not limited, it is very difficult
in reality for the A/V content providers to determine in advance the transmission
media on which applications related to A/V content are to be transmitted, the execution
environment (e.g., a platform of the device) where the applications are to be executed,
the user language in which the applications are to be produced and distributed, and
the like. Therefore, there is a need for a method and device in which an A/V content
consumer may download and execute an application related to A/V content upon detecting
the presence of the application related to the A/V content at the time the A/V content
is consumed.
SUMMARY
[0009] Aspects of the present invention are to address at least the above-mentioned problems
and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly,
an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method and device in which an Audio/Visual
(A/V) content consumer may download and execute an application related to A/V content
upon detecting the presence of the application related to the A/V content at the time
the A/V content is consumed.
[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an application execution method
and device in which transmission resources for transmission of an application related
to A/V content are not limited.
[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an application execution method
and device in which application execution devices with different execution environments
may execute applications appropriate for their device environments.
[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method and device for downloading
and executing an application related to A/V content in another device (e.g., a second
device) connected to a device that receives and consumes A/V content.
[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an application execution method
and device for allowing servers capable of downloading an application related to A/V
content to be distributed, and for allowing an application execution device to download
and execute an application by communicating with a download server where the application
is located.
[0014] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a device for executing an
application related to Audio/Video (A/V) content is provided. The device includes
a controller for obtaining an identifier of the application, for sending a query message
including the identifier and platform information of the device to a download server
having a predefined address, for receiving a response message to the query message,
and for executing the application based on the response message, and a transceiver
for sending the query message and for receiving the response message, and a transceiver
for sending the query message and for receiving the response message.
[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling
a device for executing an application related to Audio/Video (A/V) content is provided.
The method includes obtaining an identifier of the application, sending a query message
including the identifier and platform information of the device to a download server
having a predefined address, receiving a response message to the query message, and
executing the application based on the response message.
[0016] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for providing
an application related to Audio/Video (A/V) content in a download server device is
provided. The method includes receiving a query message including an identifier of
the application and platform information of an application execution device, from
the application execution device, and sending a response message to the query message.
[0017] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent
to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken
in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments
of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for executing an application related to Audio/Visual
(A/V) content in an application execution device according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a method for executing an application related to A/V content in
an application execution device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a message flow between an application execution device and one
or more download servers according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a structure of an application execution device according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for providing an application in a download server according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a structure of a download server device according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to
refer to the same elements, features and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0026] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided
to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention
as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details
to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.
Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes
and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known
functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0027] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited
to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a
clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent
to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments
of the present invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the
purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0028] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural
referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference
to "a component surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
[0029] Prior to a description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, definitions
of the terms used herein will be given below.
[0030] The term "Audio/Video (A/V) content" as used herein may refer to any type of audio-visual
production, and may be any type of A/V content unless stated otherwise. Although it
will be assumed herein that programs provided over the data broadcasting network and
movies provided through channels, Digital Video Disk (DVD) media, Blu-ray media, etc.
are given as examples of the A/V content, it is not intended to limit the scope of
the invention to these examples.
[0031] The term "transmission media of A/V content" as used herein may refer to media capable
of transmitting A/V content, and may be any type of transmission media unless stated
otherwise. Although it is provided herein that communication media such as an internet
network, a cable broadcasting network and a satellite broadcasting network, and recording
media loaded in a media play device such as a Blue-Ray disc, a DVD disc and a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) memory device are given as examples of the transmission media of
A/V content, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these examples.
[0032] The term "application execution device" as used herein may refer to any type of device
capable of executing or running applications related (or linked) to A/V content. Although
it is provided herein that a set-top box (typical example of a device for receiving
data broadcast), a Television (TV) receiver capable of receiving data broadcast, a
Personal Computer (PC) capable of receiving data broadcast, personal mobile terminal
devices (e.g., a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistance (PDA), and a smart phone)
capable of communication with an external network, and media players connected to
a home network such as a DVD player and a Blu-ray player are given as examples of
an application execution device, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention
to these examples.
[0033] For example, a user, who is viewing A/V content, received through a set-top box,
on a TV receiver, may execute an application related to the A/V content in the set-top
box and determine the execution results on the TV receiver, or may execute an application
related to the A/V content on a smart phone connected to the set-top box and determine
the execution results on a screen of the smart phone.
[0034] As another example, a user, who is viewing A/V content, recorded in DVD media, on
a DVD player, may execute an application related to the A/V content on the DVD player
and determine the execution results on a TV receiver, or may execute an application
related to the A/V content on a smart phone connected to the DVD player and determine
the execution results on a screen of the smart phone.
[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for executing an application related to A/V content in
an application execution device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, in step 100, the application execution device obtains an identifier
of an application related to A/V content through any of various routes.
[0037] The identifier of the application may be any type of information for allowing the
application execution device to access the application. For example, the identifier
of the application may include a combination of a first part "eap://www.cnn.com/news/international/",
which identifies the A/V content, and a second part "app1021", which identifies the
application, which results in "eap://www.cnn.com/news/international/app1021". Optionally,
when there is only one application related to specific A/V content, the identifier
of the application may include only a part (i.e., content identifier) for identifying
content.
[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, if the application execution device is a data broadcast
receiving device (e.g., a set-top box), the application execution device may obtain
the identifier of the application along with A/V content through the data broadcasting
network (i.e., the same media as the A/V content transmission media). For example,
the identifier of the application may be received after being embedded in a Vertical
Blanking Interval (VBI) region or a user data region in a video stream of the A/V
content transmitted over the data broadcasting network, or may be received after being
included in a Moving Picture Experts Group 2 (MPEG-2) stream as a separate Packet
Identifier (PID). Optionally, if the identifier of the application is not received
along with the A/V content, the application execution device may obtain the identifier
of the application by performing Internet Protocol (IP) communication with an external
server over the connected network based on the information about the A/V content.
[0039] In an exemplary implementation, if the application execution device is a media play
device (e.g., a DVD player), the application execution device may obtain the identifier
of the application by reading the identifier of the application recorded in the media
in which the A/V content is recorded (i.e., through the same media as the A/V content
transmission media). Optionally, if the identifier of the application is not recorded
in the media, the application execution device may obtain the identifier of the application
by performing Internet Protocol (IP) communication with the external server over the
connected network based on the information about the A/V content.
[0040] In another exemplary implementation, if the application execution device is a mobile
terminal device (e.g., a smart phone), the application execution device may obtain
the identifier of the application from the data broadcast receiving device or the
media play device that has already obtained the identifier of the application, through
various types of wireless communication protocols. Optionally, wireless communication
between the mobile terminal device and the data broadcast receiving device or the
media play device may be implemented based on a communication standard such as Bluetooth
or Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) which is a kind of communication scheme
that shares data between home network devices in accordance with standard communication
specifications such as IP, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Wi-Fi, and the like.
Optionally, in order for the mobile terminal device to obtain the identifier of the
application from the data broadcast receiving device or the media play device, a process
of registering in advance the mobile terminal device in the data broadcast receiving
device or the media play device may be used.
[0041] The identifier of the application is information that is independent of (or irrelevant
to) a platform of the application execution device. Since the identifier of the application
that the application execution device obtains is independent of the type of the platform
of the application execution device, a plurality of application execution devices
whose users are viewing the same A/V content may all obtain the same identifier of
the application.
[0042] In step 110, the application execution device sends a query message including the
obtained application identifier information and its platform information to a download
server, and receives a response message to the query message from the download server.
Optionally, the query message may include information about the user language of the
application execution device, information about the media on which the A/V content
is transmitted, and the like.
[0043] Because the application execution device transmits the application identifier independent
of its platform and its platform information to the download server using a query
message, any application execution device may obtain and execute the application using
the same procedure regardless of its platform. In other words, each application execution
device may download an application by transmitting the application identifier and
its platform information with a query message. Optionally, when the query message
includes additional information such as the user language of the application execution
device, the transmission media of the A/V content, and the like, the application execution
device may download a response message including information about the application
appropriate for the additional information such as the user language, the transmission
media, and the like.
[0044] An address of the download server to which the application execution device will
send a query message may be a predetermined address, or optionally may be an address
the application execution device has obtained in the process of obtaining the application
identifier information.
[0045] Optionally, the predetermined address of the download server may be set depending
on the platform type of the application execution device, the geographic location
of the application execution device, and the like. For example, if the application
execution device is a mobile terminal device such as a smart phone, the predetermined
address of the download server may be determined in advance as a download server such
as Apple AppStoreā¢, Google Android Marketā¢, or others according to the platform of
the application execution device. Each application execution device may send and receive
a query message and a response message to/from an address of a download server located
geographically close thereto, thus making it possible to expect faster download of
applications.
[0046] A response message to the query message may optionally include at least one of version
information, type and billing information (in the case of a paid application) of an
application indicated by an application identifier included in the query message,
location information (e.g., Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or an IP address) of a
download server, an execution file, and the like. The application type information
is information indicating whether the application is an application linked to data
broadcast channels, or an application linked to data broadcast programs.
[0047] In step 120, the application execution device executes an application related to
A/V content based on the received response message.
[0048] Optionally, if the response message includes application version information, the
application execution device may execute the application only when the application
version information included in the response message is valid, determining the application
as a valid application. On the other hand, if the application version information
included in the response message is not valid, the application execution device may
perform no operation, determining that the application is invalid.
[0049] Optionally, if it is determined that the application version information included
in the response message is valid, the application execution device may output a User
Interface (UI), for allowing the user to determine whether to execute the application,
on its display (in the case of a mobile terminal device) or a display device connected
thereto (in the case of a set-top box or a media player). The UI may be output on
the screen in the form of an icon, or may be provided to the mobile terminal device
in the form of a text message. The application execution device may be controlled
to perform the next step only when the user agrees to execute the application.
[0050] If the received response message includes an application execution file, the application
execution device may execute the application by executing the application execution
file.
[0051] In an exemplary implementation, a response message to the query message may not include
an application execution file in order that a procedure for determining whether the
application is up-to-date may be performed before downloading an execution file. In
other words, because the downloading of the execution file takes a relatively long
time, it may save time to first determine if a previously downloaded application is
up-to-date. In this case, after performing a process of sending a query message and
receiving a response message thereto, if the application version information is not
the same as that of a previously downloaded application of the same application identifier,
the application execution device may perform the application by receiving an application
execution file in the response message to the request message. If the application
version information is the same as that of a previously downloaded application of
the same application identifier, the application execution device may perform the
previously downloaded application of the same application identifier without requesting
the application.
[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates a method for executing an application related to A/V content in
an application execution device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 2, steps 100 and 110 are substantially the same as those in FIG.
1, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0054] In step 200, the application execution device sends a request message for requesting
the application to a download server and receives a response message to the request
message from the download server.
[0055] The download server to which the application execution device sends the request message
may be the same server as the download server to which the application execution device
has sent the query message in step 110, or may be a new download server indicated
by location information included in a response message to the query message. In other
words, if a download server having received the query message may not provide the
application queried by the query message, the download server may transmit location
information of a new download server providing the application to the application
execution device with a response message. By doing so, distributed services (i.e.,
distributed acceptance and delivery) of a plurality of applications are possible,
and the application execution device may properly find an address of the download
server providing the application.
[0056] Optionally, if the location information included in the response message received
in step 110 is not the same as that of the download server to which the application
execution device has sent the query message, the application execution device may
further perform a process of sending a new query message to a new download server
indicated by the location information and receiving a response message thereto, prior
to sending the request message of step 200.
[0057] In step 210, the application execution device executes the application by executing
an application execution file included in the response message to the request message.
[0058] FIG. 3 illustrates a message flow between an application execution device and one
or more download servers according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 3, an application execution device 300 sends a query message to
a download server 310 in step 330 and receives a response message from the download
server 310 in step 332.
[0060] If a download server, indicated by location information included in the response
message of step 332, is a second download server 320 that is different from the existing
download server 310, the application execution device 300 sends an application request
message to the second download server 320 in step 338 and receives a response message
from the second download server 320 in step 340.
[0061] Optionally, prior to sending the request message in step 338, the application execution
device 300 may further perform a process of sending a new query message to the second
download server 320 in step 334 and receiving a response message to the new query
message in step 336 from the second download server 320. The message format and operation
for the query message of step 334 and the response message of step 336 are substantially
the same as those of the query message of step 330 and the response message of step
332 described above.
[0062] FIG. 4 illustrates a structure of an application execution device according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 4, the application execution device 300 includes a controller 410
and a transceiver 400 for sending and receiving various messages under control of
the controller 410. In an exemplary implementation, the controller 410 may control
execution of the operations described in FIGs. 1 and 2.
[0064] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for providing an application in a download server according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 5, the download server device receives a query message including
an application identifier and platform information of an application execution device
from the application execution device in step 500.
[0066] The application identifier is information that is independent of (or irrelevant to)
a platform of the application execution device. Since the application identifier included
in the received query message is independent of the type of the platform of the application
execution device, application identifiers included in query messages received from
a plurality of application execution devices whose users are viewing the same A/V
content are all the same. Nevertheless, the download server device may inquire about
application information appropriate for each application based on the platform information
of the application execution device, included in the query message.
[0067] In step 510, the download server device sends a response message to the application
execution device in reply to the query message. The response message may include information
about the application the download server device has inquired based on the platform
information.
[0068] The response message may optionally include at least one of version information,
type and billing information (in the case of a paid application) of an application
indicated by an application identifier included in the query message, location information
(URL or an IP address) of a download server, an execution file, and the like. The
application type information is information indicating whether the application is
an application linked to data broadcast channels, or an application linked to data
broadcast programs.
[0069] If the download server device may provide the application queried by the query message,
the download server device may optionally send a response message including an execution
file of the application. On the other hand, if the download server device may not
provide the application queried by the query message, the download server device may
send a response message including location information of another download server
that can provide the application. By doing so, the download server device may redirect
an application request received from the application execution device to a new download
server in an appropriate location.
[0070] Optionally, the download server device may be a device merely serving as a Domain
Name Server (DNS) that provides only information about the place where the application
is located, without providing the application requested by the application execution
device. In other words, if the number of applications increases exponentially due
to the increase in format and type of A/V content and the use of various applications
caused thereby, the download server serving as the DNS may be used as a device useful
to provide distributed services of applications.
[0071] FIG. 6 illustrates a structure of a download server device according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 6, the download server device 310 includes a controller 610 and
a transceiver 600 for sending and/or receiving various messages under control of the
controller 610. In an exemplary implementation, the controller 610 may control execution
of the operations described in FIG. 5.
[0073] It should be noted that the flow of operations and the configuration of features
illustrated in the drawings of the specification are not intended to limit the scope
of the invention. In other words, each operation and component illustrated in the
drawings is provided for illustrative purposes only, and the invention may be implemented
with only some but not all processes and components in the drawings.
[0074] The above-described operations in FIGs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 may be implemented by mounting
a memory device having stored therein the relevant program codes in an arbitrary component
in the application execution device 300 or the download server device 310. In other
words, an arbitrary component (or a combination of components) in the application
execution device 300 or the download server device 310 may implement the above-described
operations by reading and executing the program codes stored in the memory device
by means of a processor or a Central Processing Unit (CPU).
[0075] As is apparent from the foregoing description, according to exemplary embodiments
of the present invention, A/V content providers may easily create and provide applications
related to A/V content regardless of the types of platforms of the devices executing
applications, and may provide applications related to A/V content to A/V content consumers
without the limitations on the existing A/V content broadcasting networks and the
recording capacity of the media.
[0076] In addition, for applications related to A/V content, the A/V content providers may
analyze information about the device and user language in which the applications are
executed, at the time the A/V content is serviced in the future without specifying
in advance the device and user language in which the applications are to be executed,
and may provide applications appropriate for the analyzed information, making it possible
to very flexibly cope with changes in user environment.
[0077] Further, the A/V content consumers may automatically detect the presence of information
or applications related to A/V content when consuming the A/V content, and may easily
purchase and execute the applications.
[0078] Besides, the A/V content consumers may easily download and execute applications related
to the A/V content they are watching, regardless of the types of their application
execution devices and the types of platforms of the application execution devices.
[0079] Moreover, as the download servers for providing applications related to A/V content
may be operated in a distributed manner, the A/V content providers may easily provide
the applications according to their needs, and the A/V content consumers may also
download and execute their desired applications without additional search to download
the applications.
[0080] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary
embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various
changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
1. A method of controlling a device for executing an application related to Audio/Video
(A/V) content, the method comprising:
obtaining an identifier of the application;
sending a query message including the identifier and platform information of the device
to a download server having a predefined address;
receiving a response message to the query message; and
executing the application based on the response message.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the identifier comprises obtaining
the identifier of the application from the same media as transmission media of the
A/V content.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier of the application includes an identifier
of the A/V content.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing of the application comprises:
determining whether the application is valid by analyzing application version information
included in the response message; and
executing the application by executing an execution file of the application included
in the response message if the application is valid.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the executing of the application comprises:
sending a request message for requesting the execution file of the application to
the download server and receiving a second response message to the request message;
and
executing the execution file of the application included in the second response message.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the executing of the application comprises:
sending a request message for requesting the execution file of the application to
a second download server indicated by address information included in the response
message, and receiving a second response message to the request message from the second
download server; and
executing the execution file of the application included in the second response message.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier of the application is independent of
a platform of the device.
8. A device for executing an application related to Audio/Video (A/V) content, the device
adapted to perform the steps of the method described in claims 1 o 7.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device comprises a set-top box and the transmission
media of the A/V content is broadcast and communication media.
10. The device of claim 8, wherein the device comprises a media play device, and the transmission
media of the A/V content comprises media loaded on the media play device.
11. The device of claim 8, wherein the device comprises a mobile terminal device, and
the controller obtains the identifier by wireless communication, from a set-top box
that obtains the identifier through broadcast and communication media or a media play
device that obtains the identifier from media by reading the media.
12. A method for providing an application related to Audio/Video (A/V) content in a download
server device, the method comprising:
receiving a query message including an identifier of the application and platform
information of an application execution device, from the application execution device;
and
sending a response message to the query message.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the response message includes at least one of an execution
file of the application, type and version information of the application, billing
information of the application, and address information of a second download server
device providing an execution file of the application.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifier of the application is independent of
a platform of the application execution device.
15. A device for providing an application related to Audio/Video (A/V) content in a download
server device, the device adapted to perform the steps of the method described in
claims 12 to 14.